Beast Taming: I'm Really Just a Forest Ranger - Chapter 70: The Strange Forest

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: The Strange Forest

“I understand.”

Midway, Old Xing, who had been deep in thought, suddenly raised his head and pulled out a golden fruit from his green coat.

“Before I found this fruit, everything was normal.”

“After picking up this fruit, Big Black discovered that the wolves were tracking us.”

Old Xing looked down at the fruit in his palm, his expression complex.

Chen Yuan glanced at it briefly and withdrew his gaze: “Old Xing, this is a Luminous Fruit, a Tier Two resource, naturally having a deadly allure for Pet Beasts.”

“No wonder they are relentlessly pursuing you.”

Again a Luminous Fruit, could it be that Qinling is abundant in Luminous Fruits?

“Luminous Fruit? Tier Two resource?” Old Xing looked puzzled.

Chen Yuan smiled slightly: “Old Xing, there’s no internet on the mountain, it’s normal that you don’t know these things. I’ll explain it to you later.”

Before long,

the two returned to the Forest Ranger’s cabin, where Chen Yuan, under the dim light, explained to Old Xing the significant events after Spiritual Energy Revival.

“So that’s how it is…” Old Xing first expressed his sentiments, then forced out an unnatural smile, “But these have nothing to do with an old guy like me staying on the mountain.”

“Don’t you think so, Big…Black Flame Dog?”

Speaking Big Black’s new name, Old Xing was still somewhat unaccustomed.

Chen Yuan took the opportunity to pat the obediently lying Black Flame Dog beside Old Xing:

[First time collecting Black Flame Dog, Source Point plus two]

[Race: Black Flame Dog

Attribute: Fire

Level: 4 (Tier One)

Favorability: 23

Skills: Flame Surge (Elementary 1.8/3) + Flaming Fang (Elementary 1.2/3) +

Quality: Elite

Promotion to Commander Quality Conditions: unlockable]

Great, another two Source Points collected.

“By the way, Old Xing, why doesn’t the satellite phone work up there?”

Old Xing carried a satellite phone with him, to contact people below the mountain in case of emergencies.

“It’s been non-functional since the storm.” Old Xing said.

Chen Yuan’s eyes flickered subtly, wondering why Spiritual Energy Revival would affect satellites.

But this was a matter for professionals to contemplate, Chen Yuan quickly dismissed it, and advised, “Old Xing, Qinling now is different from before.”

After a slight pause, he continued: “From what happened just now, you can feel that it is much more dangerous here than before, not suitable to stay any longer.”

As an ordinary man nearing sixty, it’s too dangerous for Old Xing to continue staying on the mountain. Song Guohao’s idea was to bring him down the mountain and arrange a leisurely position for retirement.

Upon hearing this, Old Xing blew his beard and glared: “This is my home, where else should I go if not here?”

Chen Yuan wanted to continue persuading: “But….”

Old Xing was resolute, waving his big hand to interrupt Chen Yuan: “No need to say more, I’m not leaving.”

Chen Yuan was momentarily silent.

Old Xing was a loner, even if brought down, he’d still be alone, persuading him downhill indeed seemed as difficult as reaching the sky.

Chen Yuan simply stopped convincing, instead inquired about changes in Qinling recently: “Old Xing, where do you think the biggest change is?”

“Many places have changed, they’re different from before.” Without hesitation, Old Xing said, “Previously, there weren’t roads in some places, now suddenly a section of road appears.”

“The hills and waters, plants and vegetation here have all changed.”

Chen Yuan slightly nodded, he noticed this while climbing the mountain.

“Anything else?” Chen Yuan carefully noted Old Xing’s words, continuing to ask.

“And…” Old Xing frowned, pondering seriously, the wrinkles on his forehead creased, speaking slowly and hesitantly, “And the forest to the west, I feel something’s not right.”

Old Xing opened the curtains, intending to point out the forest he mentioned, only to find it pitch dark outside, so he silently drew the curtains back.

Chen Yuan paid no heed: “Where do you think is not right?”

Old Xing sat back on his stool: “There’s always a dark cloud hovering over the forest, day in and day out.”

“Oh?” Chen Yuan sat upright, his interest piqued, “Then what?”

Old Xing looked towards Big Black by his feet, and slowly began: “Every time Big Black goes there, it behaves very strangely.”

“It becomes very excited, very exuberant, it very much wants to enter that cloud-shrouded area.”

“Awoo~”

Upon hearing its name, Big Black raised its head, barked twice, as if echoing Old Xing’s words.

Chen Yuan thoughtfully nodded: “Shall we go have a look there tomorrow?”

“Okay.”

“Anything else?”

…

September 10, Tuesday.

Cloudy.

“Slept so comfortably.”

Chen Yuan stretched lazily, climbing off the egg nest cushion, feeling refreshed and energized.

Yesterday, he had stayed up late chatting with Old Xing, fell asleep in a rush without freshening up.

Glancing at the time, Chen Yuan quickly got up and awoke the soundly sleeping Cola.

“Will there ever be a day you wake up earlier than me?”

Chen Yuan muttered, pushing open the wooden door, stepping out of the Forest Ranger’s cabin.

The view here was expansive, looking south was Taibai Mountain and Ao Mountain, looking east saw the majestic, continuous mountains, while west was a vast forest.

Old Xing stood beside Chen Yuan, pointed at the western forest: “That’s the place I mentioned.”

“Shall we head over after breakfast?”

“Alright.” Chen Yuan nodded.

After finishing a bowl of noodle soup with minced meat, the two packed their gear, summoned three Pet Beasts, and headed towards their destination.

With seasoned Forest Ranger Old Xing leading the way, Chen Yuan’s pace quickened significantly, seizing the chance to inquire about the points to note on forest patrolling.

Having been a Forest Ranger for over a decade, albeit not possessing sufficient theoretical knowledge, his longstanding experience and insights allowed him to adeptly maneuver around dangers in the mountain.

Several hours later, the sun hung high overhead.

Chen Yuan squinted, staring ahead, only to find the vast forest up front shrouded by a huge dark cloud.

“Awooo awooo!”

Just as Old Xing described, upon seeing the forest, Big Black became very agitated, howling incessantly.

If not restrained by Old Xing, it might have directly dashed forward.

Cola and Spark reacted similarly to Big Black, both showing extreme yearning for the forest in front, as though something inside was drawing them in.

Chen Yuan frowned slightly: “It’s quite odd, I have to report this situation to the Association, let them send someone to inspect.”

Chen Yuan was merely a small Forest Ranger, his duty was to identify and report issues, not resolve them.

Such incidents were naturally handled by professionals.

He also didn’t plan on checking out the situation first, after all, recklessly barging into a seemingly peculiar area didn’t differentiate one from a fool.

Pulling out his phone to document the situation, Chen Yuan bid farewell to Old Xing: “Old Xing, since you don’t want to leave the mountain, I won’t persuade you.”

“I’ll come up here weekly, let me know in advance if you need anything.”

“See you next week.”